Donating suits the Volunteer Fire Brigade just fine

Paul Wilson (l) and John Pajka (r.) both firefighters and EMTs, contrast a 20-year old rescue suit with the updated model worn by Pajka. The new suits were donated by the Rutland Fire Brigade. Joyce Roberts photo RUTLAND — Everyone is familiar with the United States Postal Service motto: Neither rain, nor snow, nor gloom of night. Well, they’re not the only ones who have to go out in all weather or at all times of day.

Firefighters, ambulance and assorted rescue workers are committed to the public good in exactly the same way and at considerable peril to themselves.

However, in tight fiscal times, it’s tough for towns to come up with the gear required by public safety workers for different types of weather or situations.

That’s where the Rutland Volunteer Fire Brigade comes in: The organization has been supporting public safety

Their latest philanthropy was the donation of two bright yellow ice rescue suits, something that came to mind when their last cold weather training session showed the 20-year-old red suits were wearing out. Cutting a hole in the ice at Long Pond, donning the suits and getting in the water got pretty chilly.

The two new rescue suits are one piece and fully waterproof with a watertight hood. Gloves and boots are attached, and a snap-in liner adds buoyancy and insulation. This allows the rescue worker to stay in the water longer. They also come in a universal size, accommodating a wearer from 4 feet 11 inches to six feet seven inches, weighing between 110 and 330 pounds.

An added benefit to the suit is that it’s relatively easy-on. It took five minutes and one or two assistants to wrangle a rescue worker into the old suits. The new suits are a one person operation, and putting them on takes under one minute.

Other ice rescue equipment like sleds was donated by the Brigade several years ago. The most likely scenario for an ice rescue is probably a person on a snow mobile going through the ice, Pajka said.

The Brigade also donated an intraosseous infusion device to the Fire Department Ambulance. The $2,400 handheld piece of equipment allows a paramedic to deliver fluids or medications directly into the bone marrow in cases where an intravenous line cannot be used, Paul Wilson, firefighter and EMT said. Via the marrow, the fluids or medication move rapidly into the vascular system, he said.

The system is a good one for very old or very young patients, dehydrated patients, or diabetics and kidney patients, Wilson said.

“The medics really wanted this,” Wilson said. Rutland is a distance from the hospital and the emergency medical equipment at the scene can make a difference to patient outcomes.

The entire department shares the bounty of another donation the Brigade made recently – a Vulcan commercial range and convection oven, a gift valued at $5,400.

The kitchen equipment will also get use in some of the town functions the department sponsors, and will be available in the event of another power emergency like the 2008 ice storm.

In past years, the Brigade also donated a rescue boat, and firefighter and training officer Brad Bemis also arranged the donation of a cutter, spreader and four chainsaws for rescue use from an anonymous donor, a $7,500 present.

The department doesn’t maintain a wish list; together with Fire Chief Thomas Ruchala “we just figure it out as we go along,” Bemis said.

The donated goods are for serious use, but most residents are familiar with the Brigade through their fundraising activities with an emphasis on the “fun.”

They are the gorgeously dressed “girls” in the July Fourth parade, and the cooks at their biggest annual fundraiser, the Chicken Barbeque held at the same time. For the past two years, the Brigade has donated money so the town could continue holding fireworks displays.

The Central Tree Chowder/Chili Challenge is now a 15-year institution, and the flags around town and at the two cemeteries are provided each Memorial Day by the Brigade as well.

They have a future ambition to preserve their long history.

“When the Fire Department became a separate entity from the Volunteer Brigade, the brigade persisted,” Wilson said. “We have a lot of stuff pertaining to our history and we’d like to work on that.”

The Brigade is also building a web site and welcomes new members. Anyone interested in joining the 110 or so members should just stop by the fire station.

Donations are always welcome. The Brigade is 501( c ) 3 organization, so gifts are tax deductible. Checks can be mailed to the Rutland Volunteer Fire Brigade, 240 Main St. Rutland MA.